Prosthetic eye with polarized dilating pupil and cooperating polarized eyeglass lens

ABSTRACT

A prosthetic eye has a white scleral portion with a simulated iris painted on the front and a horizontal polarized disc at the center of the iris. The center of the polarized disc is darkened with paint to simulate a pupil having a fairly small diameter. The back of the polarized disc is painted to blend with the iris or simulate the collarette of the eye. The prosthetic eye is used in conjunction with the special pair of eyeglasses having a lens formed of linearly polarizing material with the transmitting axis in the vertical plane. When the eyeglasses are used, it makes the pupil appear to dilate because it causes the entire disc to blacken when viewed through the polarized lens.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/162,312filed Jun. 3, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,669,727, which claimed thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/295,227, filedJun. 1, 2001, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated byreference in their entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to prosthetic eyes. Moreparticularly, it relates to a prosthetic eye with a pupil that candilate when used with a polarized lens.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

After injury or disease, a patient may need to have his or her naturaleye removed. There are many ocular prosthetic devices that simulate theappearance of a natural eye and attempt to faithfully reproduce thephysical features of the natural eye. Often such prosthetic eyes have asimulated iris of a color and pattern so as to match the complementarynatural eye and a simulated pupil. The iris image is produced on a whiteprosthetic shell adapted to be covered with a clear medium. Thesimulated pupil is of a fixed size and does not react to lightintensity, thereby detracting from the appearance of a natural eye.Attempts have been made to simulate a pupil that adjusts to light levelso as to provide an appearance of pupil dilation and contraction inresponse to ambient light. However, these are often complicated, andtherefore expensive devices, and may require frequent maintenance orreplacement to maintain their desired appearance.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention takes the form of a prosthetic eye and acoordinating pair of glasses. The prosthetic eye is formed of a materialsuch as polymethyl-methacrylate and has a globular scleral portioncolored white to simulate a human eye. In the place of the normal irisof the eye, a simulated iris is painted on the front of the scleralportion to match the user's natural eye color. A polarized disc islocated at the center of the iris. The polarized disc is placed on thehorizontal transmitting axis (180 degrees). The center of the frontsurface of the polarized disc is darkened with paint to simulate a pupilhaving a fairly small diameter. The back of the polarized disc ispainted to blend with the iris or simulate the collarette of the eye.Over the top of the polarized disc and iris is a dome of materialsimulating the cornea of the eye.

The polarized disc in the prosthetic eye is used in conjunction with thespecial application of a polarized lens, thereby making the pupil of theeye prosthesis appear to dilate because it causes the entire disc toblacken when viewed through the polarized lens. The lens that is neededto “dilate” the pupil is formed of linearly polarizing material that hasbeen incorporated into the patient's eyeglasses with the transmittingaxis in the vertical (90 degree) plane. Wearing the eyeglasses createsthe interference between the two polarized lenses, thereby creating alarger darkened area simulating dilation of the pupil. Conversely,removal of the glasses causes it to lighten, showing the details paintedon the back of the disc, thereby making the pupil appear smaller indiameter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a person in a darkened environment with a prior artprosthetic eye in their left eye socket.

FIG. 2 is a person in a bright environment having a prosthetic eye ofthe present invention in their left eye socket.

FIG. 3 is a person in a dim environment having a prosthetic eye of thepresent invention worn with a pair of special glasses.

FIG. 3A is a front view of the lens of the eyeglasses showing a verticaltransmission axis of the polarization.

FIG. 3B is a close up view of the iris and pupil of the prosthetic eyeshowing a horizontal transmission axis of the polarized disc.

FIG. 4 is a close up view of the iris and pupil of the prosthetic eye.

FIG. 5 is a close up of the polarized disc that forms the pupil.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the prosthetic eye.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a person in a darkened environment with a prior artprosthetic eye in their left eye socket. The pupil on the left eye ismuch smaller than the pupil on the right eye.

The present invention, as seen in FIGS. 2-6, is formed of two mainparts: a prosthetic eye 10 and pair of glasses 50. The prosthetic eye 10has a globular scleral portion 12 colored white to simulate a human eye.In the place of the normal iris of the eye, a simulated iris 14 ispainted on the front of the scleral portion 12 to match the user'snatural eye color. A polarized disc 16 is located at the center of thesimulated iris 14. The center of the front surface 18 of the polarizeddisc 16 is darkened with paint to simulate a pupil 20 having a fairlysmall diameter. The back of the polarized disc 16 is painted to blendwith the iris 14 or simulate the collarette of the eye. Over the top ofthe polarized disc 16 and iris 14 is a dome 22 of material simulatingthe cornea of the eye.

FIG. 2 is a person in a bright environment having a prosthetic eye 10 ofthe present invention in their left eye socket. As shown, both pupilsare contracted to a smaller diameter.

FIG. 3 is the same configuration as FIG. 2 only the person is now in adim environment and puts on a pair of special glasses 50. FIG. 3A showsa vertical transmission axis of the polarized lens 52 of the glasses,and FIG. 3B shows a horizontal transmission axis of the polarized disc16 of the prosthetic eye 10. The pupil in the normal eye is dilated andtherefore larger. In the prosthetic eye 10, since the direction of thepolarization of the polarized disc 16 and the polarized lens 52 of theglasses 50 are 90 degrees from one another, the outer portion of thepolarized disc 16 is darkened, thereby simulating a dilated (largerdiameter) pupil. When the glasses 50 are removed from in front of theprosthesis 10, the pupil size appears to be smaller (as in FIG. 2),because the polarized disc 16 lightens so that details painted on theback of the disc 16, the additional painted iris or collarette 24,become visible, while the “contracted” pupil 20 painted on the front ofthe polarized disc 16 remains darkened.

FIG. 4 is a close up view of the iris 14 and pupil 20 of the prostheticeye 10. FIG. 5 is a close up of the polarized disc 16 that forms thepupil 20. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the prosthetic eye 10. Thepolarized disc 16, which is incorporated into a prosthetic eye 10, isthe size of a dilated pupil and is used in conjunction with the specialapplication of a polarized lens 52 in eyeglasses 50 to make the pupil 20of the eye prosthesis 10 appear to dilate because it causes the entirepolarized disc 16 to blacken when viewed through the polarized lens 52.Conversely, removal of the eyeglasses 50 allows an observer to seethrough the outer part of the disc 16, showing the details 24 painted onthe back of the disc 16.

Polarized Pupil Disc Description

A polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), or other suitable material, artificialeye 10 is made in the usual way to the point where the flat paintedsurface of the iris 14 is exposed. A pupil disc 16 is then selected andstriations or glazes 24 are painted on the back of the disc 16 to matchthe natural companion eye, keeping in mind the influence on hue that thecolor of the pupil disc 16 itself will have on the final color outcome.For example, on a brown pupil disc 16, the use of a heavy creamy mixtureof white and cadmium yellow deep striated on the back of the disc 16will produce a good character and medium brown color. On a blue-greypupil disc, if the color desired is a dark warm grey, a much brighterorange or red must be glazed or painted on the back of the disc becauseit will be muted and neutralized by the blue-grey of the pupil disc. Thedisc 16 can be set on the iris 14 with a large drop of water, a paintinglens or a painting shell over it to check color. Alternately, anothertype of simulated iris may be used, such as a print or photo of thecompanion eye mounted on the scleral portion 12.

After the pupil disc 16 is glazed or painted, it should be coated with 2or 3 layers of monopoly and allowed to dry. The front surface of theiris 14 of the prosthesis 10 should also be allowed to dry well. Then,the pupil disc 16 can be glued with any suitable glue, such ascyanoacrylate, or attached with a thin glaze of monomer-polymer put onthe disc 16. It should immediately be set on the iris 14 carefully so itdoesn't move around. It is suggested that the disc 16 be placedprecisely where it needs to be with tweezers and tapped gently to seatit. The pupil disc 16 is placed on the horizontal transmitting axis (180degrees). The glue is then allowed to dry, the edge of the pupil disc 16can be colored to blend in with the collarette. Paint applied to thefront 18 of the disc 16 will not allow good extinction when the specialglasses are placed in front of the eye 10, so great care must be takento preserve the outer portion of the front 18 of the disc 16 paint-freein order to allow the pupil disc 16 to “dilate” clearly.

A small pupil 20 is painted or affixed to the front 18 of the disc 16.If preferred, the pupil 20 may be painted or placed to the back of thedisc 16. An observer would view the pupil 20 through the disc 16 whenthe eyeglasses 50 were not in place. When the eyeglasses 50 were used,the entire disc 16 would be blackened. Alternately, if a small hole waspre-punched for the desired size and location of the small pupil 20before incorporating the disc 16 onto the artificial eye, the bottom ofthe hole, created by the scleral portion 12, is painted black at thistime.

Optimally, after the entire painted surface is allowed to dry, theprosthesis 10 is capped with clear plastic in the usual way, polishedand delivered.

Eyeglasses Lens Description

The lens 52 that is needed to “dilate” the pupil disc 16 is formed oflinearly polarizing material that has been incorporated into thepatient's eyeglasses 50 with the transmitting axis in the vertical (90degree) plane. This is a difference from the sunglass type polarizedlenses now on the market, because typical sunglass lenses are arrangedwith their transmitting axes on the horizontal plane (180 degrees) todecrease the glare caused by reflected light. Also, since it is notdesirable for the pupil to “dilate” in bright light, it is importantthat current sunglasses do not “activate” the pupil disc 16. In mostcases, the second lens, which is over the patient's normal eye, will beof the same material to properly color match the other lens 52. Theorientation of the polarization may be the same or different in the twolenses. In other embodiments, the second lens may not be polarized. Inthe non-polarized cases, the color of the second lens will have to becarefully matched to the color of the dilation lens 52. The specialglasses 50 described herein will be worn only in dim light (where thepupil disc 16 needs to be dilated).

In alternate embodiments, the axis of the disc 16 and lens 52 could berotated as long as the axes remain at 90 degrees to one another.

While the present invention has been described herein with respect tothe exemplary embodiments and the best mode for practicing theinvention, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art thatmany modifications, improvements and subcombinations of the variousembodiments, adaptations and variations can be made to the inventionwithout departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

1. In combination: a pair of glasses, comprising: a first polarizedlens, a second lens, and a frame holding said first and second lenses,and a prosthetic eye, wherein said first polarized lens is configured tobe placed over said prosthetic eye and be oriented to have anon-horizontal transmitting axis.
 2. The combination of claim 1, whereinsaid non-horizontal transmitting axis of said pair of glasses isgenerally vertical.
 3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said secondlens of said pair of glasses is formed of a polarized material.
 4. Thecombination of claim 1, wherein said second lens of said pair of glassesis formed of a polarized material.
 5. The combination of claim 4,wherein said second lens of said pair of glasses has a generallyhorizontal transmitting axis.
 6. The combination of claim 4, whereinsaid second lens of said pair of glasses has a generally verticaltransmitting axis.
 7. The combination of claim 1, wherein theorientation of both the first and second lenses of said pair of glassesare fixed.
 8. In combination: a pair of glasses, comprising: a firstpolarized lens having a first transmitting axis, a second polarizedlens, and a frame holding said first and second lenses, and a prostheticeye having a polarized disc with a second transmitting axis, whereinwhen a person using said prosthetic eye wears said pair of glasses, saidfirst and second transmitting axes are oriented to cause a portion ofsaid polarized disc to appear darkened.
 9. The combination of claim 8,wherein said first and second transmitting axes are approximatelyperpendicular.
 10. The combination of claim 8, wherein the second lenshas a transmitting axis which is approximately the same as said first asthe transmitting axis.
 11. The combination of claim 8, wherein the firstlens has a generally vertical transmitting axis.
 12. The combination ofclaim 8, wherein the orientation of both the first and second lenses arefixed.
 13. The combination of claim 1, wherein said prosthetic eye has apolarized disc.
 14. The combination of claim 13, wherein said polarizeddisc has a generally horizontal transmitting axis.
 15. The combinationof claim 13, further comprising a simulation of an iris being located ona portion of said polarized disc.
 16. The combination of claim 8,further comprising a simulation of an iris being located on a portion ofsaid polarized disc.
 17. A method of causing a prosthetic eye to appearto dilate, the method comprising the steps of: (a) using a prostheticeye having a polarized disc; (b) placing a pair of glasses with apolarized lens over the prosthetic eye.
 18. The method of claim 17,wherein the polarized disc has a generally horizontal transmitting axis.19. The method of claim 17, wherein the polarized disc has a firsttransmitting axis and the polarized lens has a second transmitting axisand wherein, when the pair of glasses are worn, said first and secondtransmitting axes are approximately perpendicular.
 20. The method ofclaim 17, wherein a portion of said polarized disc is painted tosimulate an iris, the simulation of the iris being visible when the pairof glasses is removed.